Create Textured Sterling Silver Circle and Hoop Earrings

Step 1

Place a silver disc on a steel block and use a craft or ball pein hammer to hit the surface of the disc to add texture.

Turn the disc over and texture the reverse.

Top Tip “Stick the disc down on the steel block with double sided tape for added support”

Step 2

Repeat step 1 and texture all three discs.

Step 3

Draw a line down the middle of one of the discs using a scribe or pen. This should make 2 semi-circles.

Make sure the holes are at the top of each semi-circle, in the middle.

Step 4

Rest one silver disc on a bench peg and use a piercing saw to cut along the line, cutting the disc in half.

Step 6

Wrap the silver wire around a triblet or cylindrical shape, making sure to create four circles. 250mm of 1.2mm wire will make four hoops with an approximate diameter of 20mm.

Top Tip “You can make your hoops whatever size you wish!“

Step 7

Cut the circles of wire down the middle using your piercing saw and rest the wire against a bench peg.

Top Tip “You can also use wire cutters but they may slightly squash the ends of your wire“

Step 8

Use an emery board to smooth the wire ends of your hoops.

Step 9

Thread a wire hoop through each hole on the two semi-circle discs.

Then, thread a wire hoop through the hole on each circle disc.

Step 10

Gently manipulate the wire end of the hoop back and forth until they meet in the middle and sit flush. Repeat for all four hoops.

Step 11

Add a little solder paste on the join of the wire hoop and place on a heatproof block. You could hold the wire in reverse action tweezers. Heat the wire using a blow torch until the solder melts and flows.

Leave the hoop to cool for a minute and then quench (cool) in water and add to a warm safety pickle for 5 minutes or until clean.

Repeat this for all four hoops.

Step 12

When clean and dry, place each hoop on the steel block and gently hit the hoops all the way around using a ball pein or craft hammer.

You will need to move each hoop around the steel block to accommodate the disc or semi-circle disc that is attached.

Step 13

To polish you could add to a tumble barrelling machine with water, shot and barrelbrite. You could use a pendant motor and mop or silicone head. You could also use a silver polishing cloth to bring out the shine of the silver.

Step 14

To make the silver earrings with the semi-circles on attach the earring hook wires to the hoop. To do this open the hoop at the bottom of the hook wire by gripping the hoop of the hook wires with a pair of snipe, flat or chain nose pliers on both sides. Twist one pair of pliers forwards to open the loop.

Step 15

Thread the earring hoop through the silver hoop with the semi-circle on and then close the hoop by gripping the hoop of the hook wires with a pair of snipe, flat or chain nose pliers on one side and a pair of snipe, flat or chain nose pliers on the other side. Twist one pair of pliers back to close the hoop flush.

Repeat this to make the second earring.

Step 16

Next, make the second pair of silver earrings that feature a hoop and full hammered disc. Open the hoop at the bottom of the earring hookwire (see previous steps) and thread the open hoop of the hook wire through the hole in the top of the disc before closing the earring hoop.

Repeat this to make the second earring.

Finished Piece

We hope you enjoyed this jewellery making guide and learning how to make these textured silver earrings. If you have any questions or want to know more, get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and 
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